Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short-term changes in zooplankton community in Paso Ancho basin (Strait of Magellan): functional trophic structure and diel vertical migration

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Knowledge on community structure oriented to describe energy flow during late summer season in Paso Ancho basin (Strait of Magellan) is scarce and particularly affected by vertical diel migration (VDM). The main aim of this work is to identify the VDM patterns of selected species and functional feeding groups of mesozooplankton, collected by the electronic multinet BIONESS in 1995. Detailed studies were carried out on keystone components of the community: 7 species of copepods (Ctenocalanus citer, Drepanopus forcipatus, Metridia lucens, Clausocalanus brevipes, Scolecithricella minor, Paraeuchaeta antarctica, Calanus simillimus), one ostracod (Discoconchoecia elegans), one chaetognath (Sagitta tasmanica), one euphausiid (Euphausia vallentini), and two polychaetes (Pelagobia longicirrata, Tomopteris planktonis). Unexpected deviations from the classic pattern reported in literature were uncovered. The shallow layer mesozooplankton at night, although dominated by exclusively or preferentially herbivores, particularly by E. vallentini, was not represented by several species known as herbivores that remained in the deep layer throughout the day cycle. The deep-layer zooplankton throughout the day cycle was well represented by carnivores, detritivores, and omnivores. It is suggested that during low-chlorophyll summer conditions, the composition of functional groups and diet, and VDM patterns changed to take advantage of sinking phytoplankton and picoplankton in deep layers. Pelagic-benthic coupling would be strengthened due to animals that suppressed their vertical daily rise to the shallow layer at nights but remained in the deep layers to feed on a rain of particulate organic matter and other non-migrant zooplankton.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvariño A (1965) Chaetognaths. Oceanogr Marine Biol Annu Rev 3:115–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen V, Sardou J (1992) The diel migrations and vertical distributions of zooplankton and micronekton in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. 1. Euphausiids, mysids, decapods and fishes. J Plankton Res 14:1129–1154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T (1976) Diversidad y equilibrio ecológico en comunidades pelágicas. In: Orrego F (ed) Preservación del MedioAmbiente Marino. Inst Estudios Internac Univ Chile, Santiago, pp 40–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T (1999a) Hydrographic features of Magellan and Fuegian inland passages and adjacent Sub Antarctic waters. Sci Mar 63(Suppl 1):23–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T (1999b) Plankton of Southern Chilean fjords: trends and linkages. Sci Mar 63:69–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T, Hamamé M (1999) Short-term changes in the plankton of a highly homogeneous Basin of the Straits of Magellan (Paso Ancho) during spring 1994. Sci Mar 63:59–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T, Guglielmo L, Ghirardelli E (1992) Microbasins within the Straits of Magellan affecting zooplankton distribution. In: Gallardo VA, Ferretti O, Moyano HI (eds) Oceanografia in Antartide. ENEA-PNRA, Rome, pp 453–458

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T, Hamamé M, Eissler Y, Jara S (1996) Traits of phyto- and zooplankton from the Straits of Magellan to Beagle Channel on board RV “Victor Hensen” leg 1 and 2, Oct–Nov 1994. Ber Polarforsch 190:23–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Antezana T, Giraldo A, Hamamé M (2002) Clorofila y alimentación del zooplancton fraccionado por tamaño, en subcuencas del Sistema de Canales Magallánicos y fueguin os durante la primavera de 1998. Ciencia y Tecnología del Mar 25:109–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Artegiani A, Paschini E, Andueza Calderon J (1991) Physical oceanography of the Strait of Magellan. In: Anonymous, Straits of Magellan oceanographyc cruise, February–March 1991, data report part I: physical, chemical and biological oceanography, Ital Nat Sc Comm Ant Genova 1991, pp 11–52

  • Atkinson A, Sinclair JD (2000) Zonal distribution and seasonal vertical migration of copepod assemblages in the Scotia Sea. Polar Biol 23:46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baars MA, Sutomo AB, Oosterhuis SS, Arinardi OH (1990) Zooplankton abundance in the eastern Banda Sea and Northern Arafura Sea during and after the upwelling season, August 1984 and February 1985. Neth J Sea Res 25:527–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barange M (1990) Vertical migration and habitat partitioning of six euphausiid species in the northern Benguela upwelling system. J Plankton Res 12:1123–1223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batistic M (2003) Abundance, Biomass, C- and N- content of Flaccisagitta enflata and Mesosagitta minima (Chaetognatha). Mar Ecol 24:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blachowiak-Samolyk K, Kwasniewski S, Dmoch K, Hop H, Falk-Petersen S (2007) Trophic structure of zooplankton in the Fram strait in spring and autumn 2003. Deep Sea Res II 54:2716–2728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray JR, Curtis JT (1957) An ordination of the upland forest communities of Southern Wisconsin. Ecol Monogr 27:325–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs J (1974) Marine zoogeography. Mac Graw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Budillon G, Henriquez J, Sobarzo M, Spezie G (1996) Hydrodynamics of the Straits of Magellan In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Povero P (eds) Nat. Progr. Ant. Res. Straits of Magellan Ocean. Cruise, March–April 1995 data report, pp 9–52

  • Cabrini M, Fonda Umani S (1991) Phytoplankton populations in the Straits of Magellan. Boll Oceanol Teor Appl 9:137–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Calbet A, Garrido S, Saiz E, Alcaraz M, Duarte CM (2001) Annual zooplankton succession in coastal NW Mediterranean waters: the importance of the smaller size fractions. J Plankton Res 23:319–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrada GC, Mangoni O, Sgrosso S, Basualto S (1996) Spatial distribution of size fractionated phytoplankton pigments along the Straits of Magellan and their daily variation in the Paso Ancho area (autumn 1995). In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Povero P (eds) Nat. Progr. Ant. Res. Straits of Magellan Ocean. Cruise, March–April 1995 data report, pp 107–120

  • Carrada GC, Fabiano M, Povero P, Saggiomo V (1994) Surface distribution of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and particulate organic matter in the Strait of Magellan. Polar Biol 14:447–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darnis G, Barber DG, Fortier L (2008) Sea ice and onshore-offshore gradient in pre-winter zooplankton assemblages in southeastern Beaufort Sea. J Mar Syst 74:994–1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foxton P (1956) The distribution of the standing crop of Zooplankton in the Southern Ocean. Discov Rep XXVIII:191–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Giesecke R, Gonzalez HE (2008) Reproduction and feeding of Sagitta enflata in the Humboldt Current system off Chile. ICES J Mar Sci 65:361–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmo L, Ianora A (1995) Atlas of marine zooplankton Straits of Magellan, vol 1 Copepods. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmo L, Ianora A (1997) Atlas of marine zooplankton Straits of Magellan, vol 2. Amphipods, Euphausiids, Mysids, Ostracods and Chaetognaths. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmo L, Antezana T, Costanzo G, Zagami G (1991) Zooplankton communities in the Straits of Magellan. Mem Biol Mar Ocean 19:157–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Guglielmo L, Arena G, Costanzo G, Crescenti N, Vanucci S and Zagami G (1993) Zooplankton ecology in the Strait of Magellan. Nat Sc Com Ant, Magellan Cruise, Data Rep II, pp 137–250

  • Guglielmo L, Antezana T, Ghirardelli E, Zagami G, Granata A and Arena G (1996) Zooplankton ecology in the Strait of Magellan (Paso Ancho) in early autumn 1995. In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Povero P (eds) Nat. Progr. Ant. Res. Straits of Magellan Ocean. Cruise, March–April 1995 Data Report, pp 233–250

  • Guglielmo L, Antezana T, Crescenti N, Granata A (1997) Euphausiids. In: Guglielmo L, Ianora A (eds) Atlas of marine zooplankton, Straits of Magellan. Springer, Berlin, pp 87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamame M, Antezana T (1999) Chlorophyll and zooplankton in microbasins along the Straits of the Magellan-Beagle Channel passage. Sci Mar 63:35–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamame M, Antezana T (2010) Vertical diel migration and feeding of E. vallentini within southern Chilean fjords. Deep Sea Res Part II 57:642–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haq SM (1967) Nutritional physiology of Metridia lucens and M. longa from the Gulf of Maine. Limnol Oceanogr 12:40–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris RP (1988) Interactions between diel vertical migratory behaviour of marine zooplankton and the subsurface chlorophyll maximum. Bull Mar Sc 43:663–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman AW (1992) Design and calibration of a new optical plankton counter capable of sizing small zooplankton. Deep-Sea Res II 39:395–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman AW (2001) A review of OPC and an introduction to the next generation of OPC: the laser OPC. Global ocean ecosystem dynamics, globec report no. 17, optical plankton counter workshop, 17–20 June 2001, Tromsø, Norway

  • Hopkins TL (1982) The vertical distribution of zooplankton in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Deep Sea Res 29:1069–1083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL (1985) Food web of an Antarctic mid water ecosystem. Mar Biol 89:197–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL (1987) Mid water food web in McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Mar Biol 96:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hopkins TL, Torres JJ (1989) Mid water food web in the vicinity of a marginal ice zone in the western Weddell Sea. Deep Sea Res 36:543–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iglewicz B, Hoaglin DC (1993) How to detect and handle outliers. American Society for Quality Control, Milwaukee, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Iriarte JL, Basualto S, Marino D, Uribe JC (1996) Distribution of phytoplankton in the Straits of Magellan (March–April 1995). In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Povero P (eds) Nat. Progr. Ant. Res. Straits of Magellan Ocean. Cruise, March–April 1995 data report, pp 141–170

  • Knox GA (1994) The biology of Southern Ocean. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouwenberg JHM (1993) Sex ratio of calanoid copepods in relation to population composition in the Northwestern Mediterranean. Crustaceana 64:281–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavaniegos BE, Ohman MD (2007) Coherence of long-term variations of zooplankton in two sectors of the California current system. Progr Oceanogr 75:42–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longhurst AR (1985) Relationship between diversity and the vertical structure of the upper ocean. Deep Sea Res 32(12A):1535–1570

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackintosh NA (1973) Distribution of post-larval krill in the Antarctic. Discov Rep XXXVI:95–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Magazzù G, Saggiomo V, Decembrini F (1991) Primary production and biomass of Pico-, Nano- and Microphytoplankton in the Straits of Magellan (February–March 1991). Mem Biol Mar Ocean 19:127–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Magazzù G, Panella S, Decembrini F (1996) Seasonal variability of fractionated phytoplankton, biomass and primary production in the Straits of Magellan. J Mar Syst 9:249–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marino D, Sarno D, Zingone A (1991) Distribution of phytoplankton populations in the Strait of Magellan (February–March 1991). Atti Sem Int “Aree Subantartiche, Stretto di Magellano, Terra del Fuoco, Patagonia, Beagle e Magdalena”, Lecce 21–22 Ottobre 1991. Mem Biol Mar Ocean 19:147–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauchline J (1998) The biology of Calanoid Copepods. Adv Mar Biol 33:567–580

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzocchi MG, Zagami G, Ianora A, Guglielmo L, Crescenti N, Hure J (1995) Copepods. In: Guglielmo L, Ianora A (eds) Atlas of zooplankton of the Strait of Magellan. Springer, Berlin, pp 1–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Oresland V (1990) Feeding and predation impact of the chaetognath Eukrohnia hamata in Gerlache Strait, Antarctic Peninsula. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 78:41–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oresland V, Ward P (1993) Summer and winter diet of four carnivorous copepod species around South Georgia. Mar Ecol Progr Ser 98:73–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palma S, Aravena G (2002) Distribucion estacional y vertical de los quetognatos colectados entre el golfo Corcovado y el estero Elefantes. Cienc Tecnol Mar 25:87–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Palma S, Ulloa R, Linacre L (1999) Sifonoforos, quetognatos y eufausidos de los canales australes entre el Golfo de Penas y Estrecho de Magellanes. Cienc Tecnol Mar 22:111–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Panella S, Michelato A, Perdicaro R, Magazzù G, Decembrini S, Scarazzato P (1991) A preliminary contribution to understanding the hydrological characteristics of the Strait of Magellan: Austral spring 1989. Boll Ocean Teor Appl 9:107–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Pillar SC, Stuart V, Barange M, Gibbons MJ (1992) Community structure and trophic ecology of euphausiids in the Benguela ecosystem. S Afr J Mar Sci 12:393–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saggiomo V, Mangoni O (1996) Daily variations of primary production and photosynthetic parameters in Paso Ancho (Straits of Magellan). In: Faranda FM, Guglielmo L, Povero P (eds) Nat. Progr. Ant. Res. Straits of Magellan Ocean. Cruise, March–April 1995 data report, pp 179–217

  • Saggiomo V, Goffart A, Carrada GC, Hecq JH (1994) Spatial patterns of phytoplanktonic pigments and primary production in a semi-enclosed periantarctic ecosystem: the Strait of Magellan. J Mar Syst 5:119–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sameoto DD, Saroszynsky LO, Fraser WB (1980) BIONESS, a new design in multiple net zooplankton sampler. J Fish Res Board Can 37:722–724

    Google Scholar 

  • Santana A (1991) El clima de Punta Arenas during 1991. Ans Ist Pat Ser Cs Nat 7:113–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt K, Atkinson A, Stubing D, McClelland JW, Montoya JP, Voss M (2003) Trophic relationships among Southern Ocean copepods and krill: some uses and limitations of a stable isotope approach. Limnol Oceanogr 48:277–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schnack-Schiel SB, Isla E (2005) The role of zooplankton in the pelagic-benthic coupling of the Southern Ocean. Sci Mar 69:39–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thuesen EV, Childress JJ (1993) Metabolic rates, enzyme activities and chemical compositions of some deep-sea pelagic worms, particularly Nectonermetes mirabilis (Nemertea; Hoplonemertinea) and Poebius meseres (Anellida; Polychaeta). Deep sea Res I 40:937–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Towensend DW, Cucci TL, Berman T (1984) Subsurface chlorophyll maxima and vertical distribution of zooplankton in the Gulf of Maine. J Plankton Res 6:793–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter DJ (1962) Zooplankton abundance in Australasian waters. Aust J Mar Freshw Res 13:106–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner JT (1984) The feeding ecology of some zooplankters that are important prey items of larval fish. NOAA Tech Rep NMFS 7:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Uye S (1982) Length–weight relationships of important zooplankton from the Inland Sea of Japan. J Oceanogr Soc of Japan 38:149–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verheye HM, Hutchings L, Huggett JA, Painting SJ (1992) Mesozooplankton dynamics in the Benguela ecosystem, with special reference to the copepod Calainodes carinatus. S Afr J Mar Sci 12:561–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe P (1988) Functional regression equations for zooplankton displacement volume, wet weight, dry weight, and carbon: a correction. Fish Bull 86:833–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiebe P, Boyd S, Cox JL (1975) Relationship between zooplankton displacement volume, wet weight, dry weight, and carbon. Fish Bull 73:777–786

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamaguchi A, Ikeda T, Hirakawa K (1999) Diel vertical migration, population structure and life cycle of the copepod Scolecithricella minor (Calanoida: Scolecitrichidae) in Tomaya Bay, southern Japan Sea. Plankton Biol Ecol 46:54–61

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Logistical and financial support for this paper was given by the Italian National Program of Research in Antarctica (PNRA). Thanks go to Mrs Kristen Lee Ray for the English revision of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale ed Ecologia Marina, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 S., Agata Messina, Italy

    Letterio Guglielmo, Roberta Minutoli, Antonia Granata & Giacomo Zagami

  2. CNR-Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero, Sezione di Messina, Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122, Messina, Italy

    Alessandro Bergamasco

  3. Departamento de Oceanografía, Universidad de Concepción, P.O. Box 4010, Concepción, Chile

    Tarcisio Antezana

Authors
  1. Letterio Guglielmo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roberta Minutoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alessandro Bergamasco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonia Granata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giacomo Zagami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tarcisio Antezana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberta Minutoli.

Additional information

This article belongs to a special topic: a number of articles coordinated by L. Guglielmo and V. Saggiomo appear in this issue of Polar Biology and are a result of two workshops on “The pelagic ecosystem of the Straits of Magellan” held in August 2008 and 2009 in Capo Calavà Village, Messina, Italy.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guglielmo, L., Minutoli, R., Bergamasco, A. et al. Short-term changes in zooplankton community in Paso Ancho basin (Strait of Magellan): functional trophic structure and diel vertical migration. Polar Biol 34, 1301–1317 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1031-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1031-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation